Jalen Montonati didn’t just show out on his Senior Night - he put on the kind of performance that echoes through gyms and recruiting offices alike.
The Oklahoma State signee dropped a jaw-dropping 56 points Tuesday night in Owasso’s blowout win over Northwest Classen. That’s not a typo.
Fifty-six. And if that wasn’t enough, Montonati outscored the entire opposing team by himself, as Owasso cruised to a 110-35 victory.
By halftime, the 6-foot-7 wing had already poured in 42 - more than enough to seal the win on his own - and he ended the night with 15 made threes.
Yes, 15.
It was the kind of scoring display that turns heads and reminds everyone why Montonati is considered one of the top prospects not just in Oklahoma, but nationally. It also made for a special moment between player and coach - Montonati’s father, Brian, is not only his head coach at Owasso but also an Oklahoma State alum.
Sharing a night like that with family on the sidelines? That’s the kind of memory that sticks.
OSU head coach Steve Lutz couldn’t hide his excitement when asked about Montonati’s big night.
“Obviously Jalen’s had a great year,” Lutz said. “He got hurt for a bit, but he came back with a vengeance. For someone to be able to come up and put 56 on Senior Night, what a cool experience - especially with his dad being his coach.”
Montonati’s been a known name in recruiting circles for a while now. He’s a consensus four-star prospect across the board - 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN all agree on that.
ESPN is the highest on him, ranking him as the No. 50 player in the 2026 class and the top player in the state of Oklahoma. And based on what we saw this week, that ranking might even be underselling him.
This marks the second straight week of big recruiting wins for the Cowboys. Just last week, fellow signee Latrell Allmond was named a McDonald’s All-American - a major badge of honor for any high school player. With Montonati, Allmond, and Parker Robinson, Oklahoma State’s 2026 recruiting class now ranks 11th nationally and second in the Big 12, trailing only Kansas.
That’s no small feat. And it’s not just about collecting stars - it’s about building a foundation.
“I think our recruiting continues to get better,” Lutz said. “People recognize that we’ve made strides in the program and want to be a part of it.”
Lutz is clear-eyed about what comes next. He’s not promising stardom, but he’s betting on work ethic - and Montonati has plenty of it.
“Whether Jalen comes here and is a first-team All-American or whether he comes here and is a role player, who knows?” Lutz said. “But I know that he’s a great person who works really, really hard at basketball, and guys like that typically are going to be successful.”
That’s the kind of message that resonates. No hype, no guarantees - just a belief in the process and in the players who are willing to put in the work.
For Oklahoma State, Montonati’s Senior Night wasn’t just a highlight - it was a glimpse into the future. And if Tuesday was any indication, that future looks bright.